This Wednesday, 1/18/12, we retold the story of Johnny Appleseed, a scraggly but loved hermit who roamed the Ohio territory during the time of the war of 1812. He told great stories and made friends everywhere He went. Although I don't agree with his theology, his mannerisms & lifestyle reflect that of the apostle/missionaries of the early church. Johnny used his strengths, which were kindness, gentleness, & sharing among other things, to win over the affection of both the settlers and Native Americans. He didn't seek fame or power, but eventually earned a large amount of both. He was eventually able to use that position to help the people he loved during the war of 1812, saving many many lives. The apostle Paul used his strengths, which were a FORMER high social position (pharisee) and in-depth knowledge of both scripture and the legal system to appeal to the government officials and his former peers. Paul made an impact on both his society and the Church that only he could have made.God eventually used him to write a big chunk of the New Testament, and to define the theology of the church.
200 years ago there was a Creek Indian man named John Davis. He came to a relationship with Christ through a church mission put on by the Christian Settlers, who sympathized with the Native Americans and felt led to comfort them in their dark time, when our government was taking their lands and possessions. Davis moved west with his tribe, and became the first baptist missionary in Oklahoma. He had a successful ministry and was helpful in starting the first Baptist Church in Oklahoma, Ebeneezer Station, near current day Muskogee. His effect on the church, especially in Oklahoma, and even more among Native Americans, has been immense.
Point is: Only you have your position in society. There's no one like you but yourself. You can have a massive positive impact on society, the church, your family, and your friends. But there's a shortcut to the "american dream" that many people take, which renders accomplishing it meaningless. There's a false definition of success floating around that basically says that when you've got enough money, cars, land, and attention from other people,... you win. You can sit around and be lazy knowing that you've made it. I say (I say from both experience and from reading such things in the Bible) that success is to live a Christlike life.
Jesus was patient, kind, understanding, loyal, forgiving, unselfish, poor, self-denying, and served others with every drop of blood in his body. He did nothing at all that our society would consider successful. Yet, has there ever lived a person who had such a lasting impact on our world? Has anyone else brought peace, thankfulness, joy, self-respect, purpose,... to the world like Jesus did?
True, Jesus was the son of God. No one has had the opportunity to effect history the way he did. No one has had the opportunity to effect history exactly the way you can either though. There's hope and purpose for your life that exceeds society's expectation of you, but it's only found in Jesus Christ. Even those who've accepted Him as Savior have no purpose until He becomes Lord. The Bible says you can't have one without the other anyway. Be successful. Have a purpose. Make an impact. Live with Joy and Peace. Accept Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.
Contact us for more info!!
200 years ago there was a Creek Indian man named John Davis. He came to a relationship with Christ through a church mission put on by the Christian Settlers, who sympathized with the Native Americans and felt led to comfort them in their dark time, when our government was taking their lands and possessions. Davis moved west with his tribe, and became the first baptist missionary in Oklahoma. He had a successful ministry and was helpful in starting the first Baptist Church in Oklahoma, Ebeneezer Station, near current day Muskogee. His effect on the church, especially in Oklahoma, and even more among Native Americans, has been immense.
Point is: Only you have your position in society. There's no one like you but yourself. You can have a massive positive impact on society, the church, your family, and your friends. But there's a shortcut to the "american dream" that many people take, which renders accomplishing it meaningless. There's a false definition of success floating around that basically says that when you've got enough money, cars, land, and attention from other people,... you win. You can sit around and be lazy knowing that you've made it. I say (I say from both experience and from reading such things in the Bible) that success is to live a Christlike life.
Jesus was patient, kind, understanding, loyal, forgiving, unselfish, poor, self-denying, and served others with every drop of blood in his body. He did nothing at all that our society would consider successful. Yet, has there ever lived a person who had such a lasting impact on our world? Has anyone else brought peace, thankfulness, joy, self-respect, purpose,... to the world like Jesus did?
True, Jesus was the son of God. No one has had the opportunity to effect history the way he did. No one has had the opportunity to effect history exactly the way you can either though. There's hope and purpose for your life that exceeds society's expectation of you, but it's only found in Jesus Christ. Even those who've accepted Him as Savior have no purpose until He becomes Lord. The Bible says you can't have one without the other anyway. Be successful. Have a purpose. Make an impact. Live with Joy and Peace. Accept Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.
Contact us for more info!!